Luxury World - by Mark Tungate (Hardcover)

About the Book

What are the genuine luxury brands, and what strategies do they use to lift themselves into the realm of the truly elite? Tungate slips behind the facade of the world's most sophisticated businesses to show how they really function.

Book Synopsis

The word "luxury" has almost lost its meaning. Once used to describe genuinely prestigious products or places, the concept of luxury has been hijacked by a multitude of aspiring or overpriced commodities, from foot spas to chocolates. So what is real luxury? Which are the genuine luxury brands, and how have they reacted to the rise of the "mass luxury" sector? What strategies do they use to lift themselves into the realm of the truly elite? Who are their customers - and what kind of lives do these remarkable people lead? How do luxury brands attract and retain them? And above all, where can the industry turn now excess is out of fashion?

With wit, accuracy and insatiable curiosity, Luxury World takes us on a voyage around the luxury universe, slipping behind the facades of the world's most sophisticated businesses to demonstrate how they function. Among other destinations, Luxury World visits Swiss watchmakers, the Champagne houses of France, the diamond district of Antwerp, the luxury enclave of Monte Carlo, the discreet ateliers of the last craftsmen and a host of brands in Paris - the self-proclaimed capital of elegance. Along the way, he uncovers the true face of today's luxury industry.

Review Quotes

"A valuable portrait of the sector at a watershed moment: Luxury isnt going out of style it just needs to change its style."-- "Tom Ford"

"He clearly illustrates that luxury transcends categories, even in areas where non-consumption activist movements shun excessive consumption and promote simple living (chapter 20). In fact, there is very little in daily life that does not have the capacity of being exposed to the draw of luxury, from food (chapter 16) and drink (chapters 14 and 15) to domestic help (chapter 19)."-- "Natalina Zlatevska, Assistant Professor, Bond University Australia"

About the Author

Mark Tungate is the author of the best-selling Fashion Brands, Adland and Branded Male, all published by Kogan Page. Based in Paris, he is a journalist specializing in media, marketing and communication. He writes regularly about advertising, style and popular culture for the French media magazine Stratégies and the trends intelligence service WGSN. His work has also appeared in The Times, The Independent and The Telegraph, as well as the magazine CNN Traveller. He is a copywriter for several brands and advertising agencies and he regularly speaks at conferences around the world.